Glider chair



April 8, 1958 F. M. HALLETT ET AL GLIDER CHAIR Filed Aug. 22, 1955 rm. wy, U m LR M m M. a w. H r MM Mm K M MM H United States Patent GLIDER CHAIR Frank M. Hallett, Brighton, Mich., and Hugh M. Carter, Tipton, Ind., assignors to Tipton Furniture Company, Tipton, Ind., a corporation Application August 22, 1955, Serial No. 529,833

3 Claims. (Cl. 155116) This invention relates generally to rocking chairs, and more particularly it relates to rocking chairs of the type having a stationary base and chair supporting links mounted thereon, whereby the supported chair may rock on the stationary base.

In chairs of the type described, it is desirable to provide a locking device of such character that the chair may be locked in one of several tilted positions on the base. Thus, it is possible to convert the rocking chair into a conventional stationary chair, and the angle of repose may be adjusted to satisfy the individual desires of the user.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a simple and economical locking mechanism for rocking chairs of the type having a stationary base and a link supported chair portion.

In accordance with this invention there is provided a rocking chair having a stationary base member, a chair member, link members pivoted between the base member and the chair member for supporting the chair member in such a manner as to provide rocking action, and a locking dog movably supported between the chair member and the base member for locking the chair member at different angles of repose with respect to the base member.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawing and the following description and claims:

Fig. l is a side elevation view, with parts broken away, of a rocking chair embodying the locking mechanism of this invention and illustrating the chair in alternative locked or unlocked positions.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the stationary base and the base portion of the chair member illustrating the mechanism for supporting the chair on the base and the locking dog adapted to lock the chair base with respect to the stationary base.

This invention is applicable to arocking chair of the type comprising a base having side members 11 and 12 spaced from one another and fastened to one another by struts 14 and 15. The side members 11 and 12 may be provided with forwardly and rearwardly extending feet 16 and 17, respectively.

The base member 10 supports a chair member 19, the base of which includes side members 20 and 21 spaced from one another and fastened to one another by means of the end members 22 and 23. The seat supporting springs 24 are conventional, as also is the seat, arm structure and back structure.

The base member 19 of the chair member envelops the base member 10 with the side members 20 and 21 spaced outwardly of the side members 11 and 12 of base 10. Between members 11 and 21, and 12 and 20, are the chair supporting links 25 which are all identical with one another and include oppositely directed pivot pins or bolts 26 and 27. The pivot pins 26 connect the upper ends of links 25 with the sides 11 and 12 of base member 10, while the pivot pins 27 connect the lower ends of links 25 with the side members 20 and 21 of the chair base 19.

2,829,704 Patented Apr. 8, 1958 ICC The horizontal spacing of the upper pins 26 is greater than the horizontal spacing of the lower pins 27, whereby the chair member 19 moves with a rocking motion with respect to base 10.

For the purpose of locking the chair member 19 in one of several tilted positions with respect to base 10, there is provided a locking mechanism consisting of a dog 29 hinged at its rear end to the cross member 23 by means of a hinge 30. The dog 29 includes several stop surfaces 32 and 33, for example. While only two stop surfaces are shown, it will be obvious that any desired number may be provided as required for satisfactory operation. For holding the dog 29 in a normally inoperative position, and also for moving the dog 29 from an inoperative position to an operative position, there is provided a crank 34 supported in a block 35 and in a hole at 36 bored through the side member 21 of the base of chair member 19. When the chair is constructed, the block 35 and the side member 21 are each drilled to provided holes of such a size that crank 34 will rotate with a substantial amount of friction suflicient to prevent free movement of the crank and free movementof dog 29. The crank 34 includes a bent over portion 37 projecting into a slot at 38 in dog 29, whereby the crank holds the dog 29 in any adjusted position. Crank 34 also includes an operating handle 39 which is outside of and at the rear portion of side member 21, whereby a person sitting in the chair may operate the dog.

In operation a person sitting in the chair may rock backwardly and forwardly on the chair due to the action of the links 25, or if he desires that the chair be held in a stationary position on base 10, he may rotate the crank member 34 in a counterclockwisedirection (Fig. 1), which causes dog 29 to move in a counterclockwise direction and downwardly toward the rear strut member 15 of base 10. A person sitting in the chair may make this adjustment either as he rocks the chair backwardly or after he has rocked the chair backwardly to such a point that either the stop surfaces 33 or 32 drop downwardly over the rear edge of the rear strut member 15. Dog 29 is shown in such a position in dotted lines in Fig. 1 with stop surface 32 engaging the rear edge of strut member 15. The chair is thereby locked so that it can not move forwardly on the links 25. When it is desired to resume a rocking motion, the crank 39 may be rotated in a clockwise direction while the chair is moved backwardly sufficient to disengage the stop surface from the strut 15, thereby lifting the dog 29 to such a position that it clears strut member 15. The chair is then completely released for rocking motion.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that this invention provides a locking mechanism for rocking chairs of the type described, which is simple and economical to manufacture and which also provides a positive lock which can only be disengaged by operation of a release crank. No complex control mechanism is required, and the control mechanism as provided by this invention is easily accessible and simple to operate.

The invention claimed is;

1. In a rocking chair having a stationary base member having sides and front and rear strut members spacing said sides and securing them to one another, a chair member, means for supporting said chair member on said base member for rocking action with respect thereto, the improvement comprising means for locking the chair member in a preferred tilted position with respect to the base member, said means comprising a dog pivoted to the rear portion of said chair member and overlying the rear strut member of said base member, said dog including on its lower side spaced stop surfaces movable into engagement with the rear edge of said rear strut member of said base member, and a crank coupled to said dog and supported in said chair member for holding said dog in inoperative position With respect to the rear strut member of said base member and movable for pivoting said dog into a position to engage one of said stop surfaces with the rear edge of said rear strut member of said stationary menihen' M i M U member has a base portion and the crank is supported in frictional engagement vvith said base portion, and an operating handle on the outer end of the crank located so that a person sitting in the chair may operate the dog.

3. A device as set forth in claim 2, wherein the dog 2. A device as set forth it claim 1 wherein the chair 4' is provided with a slot and the cranlg is provided with a bent portion projecting into said slot for the operation of the dog.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 54,869 Cronk 'May 22, 1866 1,817,863 Walker Aug. 4, 1931 10 2,529,613 Kirkwood et a1 Nov. 14, 1950' 2,605,814 Gearing a Aug. 5, 1952 

